Foundation garments



Dec. 6, 1960 Filed June 12, 1959 M. SPETALNIK FOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Dec. 6, 1960 M. SPETALNIK FOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1959 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 2,963,022 FOUNDATION GARMENTS Max Spetalnik, 2635 Hudson Blvd., North Bergen, NJ.

Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,947

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-439) This invention relates to foundation garments for women, the garments incorporating an upper or brassiere section and a lower or girdle section.

One of the serious objections to one-piece foundation garments has been the interaction of the brassiere section with the girdle section. Thus, the girdle section generally causes a downward drag on the brassiere section which is objectionable. On the other hand, the brassiere section sometimes causes the girdle section to ride up on the wearers body when the wearer bends over or sits down. It is evident that the one-piece nature of this garment has imposed objections to the functions of both sections including undue downward drag on the shoulder straps of the brassiere section.

With the foregoing in mind I have devised a one-piece foundation garment where the stresses of each section are substantially disassociated from the other section. I have accomplished this by eliminating both the front and rear connection of the sections to each other. Instead of such connections I have provided a side panel which connects the sections and which is itself freely stretchable vertically. Even the seams which connect the side panels to the brassiere and girdle sections are vertically stretchable. The result of the foregoing is to so disassociate the tensions of the respective sections that the wearer may freely bend or even twist sideways without imparting stresses from one section to the other. The garment has therefore new and hitherto unattainable ranges of comfort While nevertheless serving the essential purpose of molding and confining the body areas as required.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of the garment as worn;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side view thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view; and

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view with the rear brassiere panels outwardly extended to illustrate the overlapping relationship thereof with the girdle section.

In the drawings, the brassiere section It) is conventionally constructed. This section is referred to as the brassiere section because it comprises breast-cups 11 although it also incorporates bodice sections 12 which are sewn thereto. This brassiere section, as has been stated above, is essentially conventional apart from the fact that the lower edge 13 thereof is open and free of any portion of the garment.

Referring to Figure 2, the rear of the brassiere section comprises wings 14 and 15 which are fastened together by hooks and eyes 16 and 16a (Figure 5) to fasten this section upon the body of the wearer. The bottom edges 14a and 15a of the wings 14 and 15 are free of any portion of the garment as illustrated in Figure 5.

It can be seen, therefore, that since edges 13, 14a and 15a, are not connected to any portion of the garment, the brassiere section is relatively disassociated from 2,963,022 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 the lower or girdle section 17. However, since there must necessarily be a connection between the two, I employ the elongated side sections 18, which extend the full length of the garment. Side sections 18 are of satin elastic cloth and are vertically stretchable as indicated by the arrows 19. Side sections 18 are not horizontally stretchable in order to provide adequate confining support.

Referring to the front view of the garment as illustrated in Figure 1, section 18 is connected to brassiere side section 20 which is of substantially the full length of the brassiere section. Section 20 is of two-way stretch material as indicated by the arrows 21. Insofar as the connection of side section 18 to section 20 is concerned, it is the vertical stretchability of section 20 which is of importance. Thus, since section 20 is vertically stretchable, and the same being true of section 18, they both stretch in unison in response to tension. The stitching in seam 22 is of the feather stitching type which enables both sections 20 and 18 to stretch together vertically. However, any type of conventional resilient stitching whether of the overstitch type or incorporating elasticized thread may be employed.

The girdle section 17 is also of largely conventional form. However, the girdle side sections 23 and 24 are of two-way stretch material with the seams 25 and 26 of the same nature as seams 22 above described. Accordingly, the lower portion of side sections 18 may likewise stretch together with the girdle side sections 23 and 24.

In order to provide adequate support, central portion 27 of the girdle section is of non-stretch material while the rear central portion 28 of the girdle section is of vertically stretchable material only as indicated by the arrows 29. This gives adequate circumferential support.

Referring to Figure 5, the rear of the girdle section is provided with a zipper 30 although this may obviously be dispensed with. The side panels 14 and 15 are of two-way stretch although this is not strictly necessary for the functioning of the essential elements of the garment.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have devised a one-piece foundation garment which effectively separates the tensions and interactions of the brassiere section with the girdle section although the garment is nevertheless of so-called one-piece construction. The minimum of connections between these two sections comprises the vertically elastic side sections 18 which, together with the vertically stretchable seams, isolate tensions originating in one portion of the garment and effectively prevent their transfer to another portion of the garment. Thus, the brassiere section is not unduly pulled downwardly by the girdle section and, conversely, the girdle section does not pull upon the brassiere section whether the wearer is bending, sitting, or twisting sideways. The brassiere section is permitted to maintain a comfortable position as controlled by the length of the shoulder straps while the girdle section will not exert an uncomfortable drag or pull on the shoulder straps.

In addition to the above, the overlapping brassiere and girdle sections provide additional support at the waistline area, the approximate overlapping distance being about 3" at the center and about 6" at the side edges. The curvatures of the upper edge 31 of the girdle area and the lower edge 32 and the bottom edges 14a and 15a of the brassiere section rear wings being concave, it has been found that adequate support together with flexibility is achieved without requiring conventional boning. The top portion of the girdle section is given firm support by being thus overlapped and it will not tend to roll down.

There has been shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment of the invention but it is obvious that changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. A foundation garment comprising an upper brassiere section and a lower girdle section, said brassiere section having front and rear'edge portions thereof overlapping and free of said girdle section, and side sections connecting said two sections together, said side sections being vertically stretchable and extending on each side of the garment for substantially the full length thereof.

2. A foundation garment according to claim 1 and wherein said side sections are horizontally non-stretchable.

3. A "foundation garment according to claim 2 and wherein said front and rear edge portions extend substantially completely across the garment, said side sections being the sole connection between said brassiere section and said girdle section.

4. A foundation garment according to claim 2 and wherein said front and rear edge portions extend substantially completely across the garment, said side sections being the sole connection between said brassiere section and said girdle section, said side sections extending vertically on each side of the garment for substantially the full length thereof, and the portions of the brassiere section and the girdle section to which said side sections are connected being likewise vertically stretchable.

5. A foundation garment according to claim 4 and wherein the connection of said side sections to said portions of said brassiere and girdle sections is by vertically stretchable seams.

6. A foundation garment according to claim 5 and wherein the front and back upper edges of said girdle section are concave and the front and back lower edges of said brassiere section are also concave, said brassiere section edges overlapping said girdle section edges approximately 3 inches at the center and approximately 6 inches at the sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,078 Mayer May 30, 1939 2,193,551 Cohen Mar. 12, 1940 2,199,442 Mayonnade et al. May 7, 1940 2,366,026 Hawes Dec. 26, 1944 2,899,963 Spitzer Aug. 18, 1959 

